Your Smile|Grayson Dolan

chapter one

|11:00 am on tuesday, May 15|

+Serena+

"The truck's leaving now! Let's go serena!" My step-brother Cole yelled up the stairs.

I ran down the wooden steps I've spent many Christmases on waiting for my mom to take "one more picture" and "one last picture". I don't know what it's going to be like not living in this house; I feel like I'm leaving my dad here.

I thought about the first time I met Jeff, my step-dad.

6 months before

"Kids get down here!" My mom screamed up the stairs, Today was the day I'm going to meet my mom's new boyfriend. She's been cheated on so many times since my dad died but something about this guy tells me he's different. My mom had told us he has kids also and I take that as a good sign: whooever is willing to go out with a widow with 5 kids and have his own kids has to be a good guy.

I shut my laptop and ran down behind my little sister, Colleen and her twin Josh.

"This is Jeff." My mom told us when we all met at the bottom of the stairs and gestures to a half black man standing next to him.

I stepped up first and helld my hand out for a handshake but he ignored it and qrapped me into a hug. Everyone didthe same with him and he said "I'm Jeff! These are my kids, Julia, Zach, and Cole" 3 kids stepped out from behind him.

I was surprised when I saw them, especially Cole. I've known Julia from sports around town but she's a year older than me and Zach I recognized because he looked just like Julia. I already knew Cole, he si in the same grade as me and we happen to be friends from school.

We all wave and they walk into the house.

"We have an announcment." My mom told us and Jeff nodded his head.

"WE'RE GETTING MARRIED!" She shouted and slid a large rock onto her finger.

All the kids extanged glances. Did they even think this through? I thought to myself.

"AND WE'RE MOVING IN!" Jeff shouted to his kids.

Murmrs escaped from the group of kids and my mom said "Oh lighten up. It will be fun!"

8 kids? Really?

"I guess were the new brady bunch plus two." My older broher, Jimmy joked.

Everyone awkwardly laughed and we all went into the kitchen for the dinner my mom had prepared with me.

present time

After Cole moved in, our house was getting a little small for 10 people plus two dogs. He was kinda popular so I always had sweaty boys at my house after they had some type of practice. The wedding was tons of fun, there were lots of kids there and my mom has gotten so much more chill since she got married. For a girl going into her freshman year, that can be a good thing.

Jeff even got a job offer in Florida, which he gladly took. That's why me, and my family are packing our bags and moving to Destin, Florida.

The car ride was long but it was okay because our entire family was kinda forced to be best friends with eachother by our parents' "bonding".

I followed the movin truck in me mum's car (a/n HAHAHAHAH i hate myself why do i do this) with Cole, Julia, and Josh. Katie, Colleen, Jeff, and Zach went in the other car.

After about 7 hours of driving from our beloved home in South Carolina to Destin, Florida, we stopped infront of a very large house. "Are you serious?!" me and Cole screamed together as soon as my mom told us we were going to be living here.

I walked though the big wooden door with my old cheering backpack decorated with past year's bows slung over my shoulder and walked through the door Jeff pointed to and told me it was my room. I walked in and saw light grayish walls and a huge walk-in closet. My bed was already there and so were a few boxes. I guess they got to my room first, I thought to myself and went straight to the box where I had put my photos.

I pulled out many poloroid photos out of the box and strung them onto a string with clothespins. After, I pulled out the christmas lights and strung them about 5 inches below them. I pulled out all my clothes and hung them where I wanted them on the hangers already placed in my closet and folded the clothes I put in some drawers.

After I made my bed and arranged my makeup and hair products on the black vanity, I stood back with my hands placed on my hips and thought I might actually like Destin.

I went down to the kitchen and ate some pizza with Cole and Julia. They're basically my best friends. It was easy for us to get closer because we had already known eachother before we moved in together.

After we finished, they had to go finish their rooms so i showered and changed into a pair of acid washed high waisted shorts and a cropped muscle tank from PINK. "I'm going to Starbucks!" I screamed to my mom/Jeff/who ever hears me, and slid on my mint green vans. I walked out the door and grabbed my penny board and skated down the street.

I rode past a group of boys who looked about my age and dang! I love Florida. I could feel them staring at me but i just kept going and after about 5 minutes, I got to Starbucks. I ordered my usual, and iced carmel latte and texted my friends for a while.

As I was walking out the door, I ran into the group of boys. "Sorry" One of them said when he bumped into my shoulder, he looked so farmiliar.

"It's fine." I smiled and tried to walk past them.

"I'm Grayson by the way." he said and went around the group "That's David, Andrew, Jack, Nick, and Ethan." Ethan was obviously his twin.

"Serena." I introduced myself.

"Are you new here?" Ethan asked.

I nodded.

"Doyou have any siblings?" Nick asked.

I laughed. "Yeah, I have 4 brothers, and 3 sisters."

They all stared at me with wide eyes. "Step brothers and step sister." I explained and the nodded.

"Where do you live?" Grayson asked.

"Summer ave."

"Cool!" he said. "That's where me and Ethan live! We'll bee you around then?" he asked.

"Of course." I smiled and walked past them, riding my board up the street and to my brand new house.

I met with my family and we went out for dinner to Bertucci's because we don't exactly have any food yet and went straight to bed when we got home around 10. Today was a long, tiring day.

As I laid in my bed, I went on tumblr and youtube, not thinking too much but after I set my laptop on the floor, I began to think.

I hope they like me. and I hope I get to see Grayson and his friends tomorrow, they seem nice enough.

It took me so long to fall asleep so I fell asleep listening to my playlist of poems by Shane Koyczan, they're not like the poems you think about: describing flowers and the ocean. They always make me feel comfortable.